Merry-go-round



(No Model.)

T. T. TEMPLIN.

MERRY -G0-ROUND.

Patented Nov. 30

ATTORNEYS.

WITNESSES:

UNITED STATES PATENT THOMAS T. TEMPLIN, OF PARIS, KENTUCKY.

MERRY-GO-ROUND.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 594,713, dated November 30, 1897.

Application filed October 6, 1896. Serial No. 607,996. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS T. TEMrLIN, of Paris, in the county of Bourbon and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and Improved Merry-Go-Round, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to improvements in that class of swings commonly called merrygo-rounds.

It consists of two seats suspended from the ends of a pivoted beam and provided with means by which the same may be operated and controlled by one of the riders.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate.corresponding parts in all the views.

. Figure 1 is a perspective view of my device. Fig. 2 is a top plan view. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of one end of the beam, showing the arrangement of the ropes by which the device is operated and controlled. Fig. 4c is a detail perspective view showing another arrangement of the guide-pulleys and tension device for the operating-rope, and Fig. 5 is an edge view of the same. a

The object of the invention is to provide a circular swing or merry-go-round which shall be simple and cheap in construction and in which one of the riders may operate and control the device.

Another object also is to provide means by which the position of one of the riders may be shifted in relation to the central post, and thereby maintain an even balance between the two occupants even when they are of different weights.

The post A is supported vertically either by being placed in the ground or by having a platform or by braces B, attached thereto and spread sufficiently to make the post stable. Upon the upper end of this post a plate A is fixed, which has a conical depression in its upper surface and forms the lower half of the'pivot-bearin g upon which the swing turns. The upper half of the bearing consists of a pin 0, fixed in the apex of the braces D The beam D is composed of two bars or beams fastened at a slight distance from each other, leaving an open space D between them.

At the center this beam is braced by the two angular beams D and the pivot-pin and its bearing are placed in the apex of these angular braces. The central post A passes between the two beams D D, which at this point are spread somewhat to give greater clearance. From each end of the beams are suspended seats E E. The seat E is secured rigidly to the beam by the vertical bars E The seat E is suspended from the beam by similar bars E The upper ends of these bars, however, are not attached directly to the beam, but pass between the two side pieces thereof and are attached to a bar E This bar E is provided with rollers F, which travel upon the upper surface of the beams D. This allows of radial adjustment of the seat E in order to exactly counterbalance the weight of the occupant of the opposite seat.

A rope G is connected to the bar E and is carriedacross over the beam to the opposite seat, and then passes over a guide-roller Gr and hangs down within reach of the occupant of this seat. The end of the rope, as shown, is provided with a handle G The occupant of the seat E by grasping the rope and pulling thereon can draw the opposite seat nearer the center. When the swing is in motion, the centrifugal force will tend to throw the movable seat E away from the center. It will thus be seen that the position of the seat E is under the control of the occupant of the opposite seat E and may be adjusted so as to obtain a an exact balance. The end of the rope G may then be fastened bywinding upon a cleat G fixed upon the side bar E when the adjustment of the seat E has been accom plished.

To operate the swing or to rotate the same, I have provided the following means: A wheel H, of any suitable construction which will receive and hold a coil of rope thereon, is attached to the central shaft or mast A just below the beam D, and a rope I is passed about this wheel, the rope, as shown in the drawings, having a bearing of about one and one-half turns on the wheel. The amount of sufficient adhesion for operating the swing. This rope is made endless and is carried over guide-rollers I and passed down, so that the vertical portion I hangs conveniently near theoccupant oft he seat E. The pulleys I are shown as provided with guards I". The

this, however, may be such as will furnish IOO other portion of the rope after passing over the guide-roller I is returned horizontally toward the center of the swing and passed through the guides 1 The object of this is to obtain a little tension on this side of the rope, so as to hold it taut and also to carry this portion out of the way of the rider. It will be seen that when the portion 1 of this rope is pulled down it will swing that end of the swing forward. As this is continued the swing will be given rotation, the speed thereof depending upon the force and rapidity with which the rope is taken in. The other portion of the rope after passing through the guide 1 and the pulley 1' passes back and around the wheel H. The wheel H is fixed to the shaft A and does not rotate. An operating-rope might, if so desired, be carried to the opposite seat as well. It is thought, however, that the single rope operating from one seat only will be sufficient. It is also evident that more than one beam D might be used, the beams crossing each other at the center, radiating therefrom as the spokes of a wheel. My principal aim, however, is to provide a swing of small size and cost which may be purchased for individual use.

It should be mentioned that the pivot for the beam D is at one side of the center, the end carrying the movable seat being the longer, as the lighter person will ordinarily occupy this seat.

The device shown in Figs. 4 and 5 is a different arrangement of guide-p ulleys and ropecontrolling devices. The rope I from the wheel H is passed over a single guide-pulley 1 upon one side of the post E It is then passed through a staple or eye g upon the outside of the post E and lower down. It then passes up over the pin and beneath the spring g. The pin g is on the post E opposite the pulley I. The pulley I is provided with a guard 2', which prevents the rope from escaping therefrom. This position and form of guide mechanism carries the rope more out of the way than that shown in Fig. 3, and its operation is as convenient. If desired, a pulley might be substituted for the staple g or for the spring g and pin 9 Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The combination of a standard, a pulley fixed on the standard, a beam having two parallel portions spread from each other at an intermediate point, the spread portions of the beam embracing the standard, the beam also having two upwardly-extending auxiliary beams joined to each other at their upper ends, and bearing on the top of the standard, whereby the main beam is mounted to have gyrating swinging movement on the standard, a seat fixed to one end of the main beam, a second seat having a part extending between the sections of the main beam, and being adjustable longitudinally with the main beam, the said second seat beinglocated at the end opposite the fixed seat, a pulley fixed to the standard, a connection between the pulley and the fixed seat, and a second connection between the two seats, substantially as described.

2. In a swing, a standard, a beam formed of two parallel sections spread from each other at intermediate portions to embrace the standard, two auxiliary beams fixed to the main beam and rising therefrom, the additional beams being joined to each other at their upper ends and being rested on the top of the standard, whereby to mount the main beam to have gyrating swinging movement, a seat fixed to one end of the beam, a pulley fixed to the standard, an endless connection passed over the pulley, the connection extending to the stationary seat, a pulley located at each side of the main beam and over which pulleys the respective runs of the flexible connection pass, a guide-block fixed to one side of the beam'an d having two openings through which two folds of one run of the flexible connection pass, a seat slidably mounted at the opposite end of the beams, and a connection between the two seats, substantially as described.

3. The combination of a standard, a beam 9 mounted on the upper end of the standard and capable of having rotary gyrating movement thereon, a fixed seat at one end of the beam, a movable seat at the other end of the beam, means running between one of the seats and the standard by which the beam may be turned on the standard by a person resting in the said seat, and a second means running between the two seats and attached to the movable seat by which second means a person seated in the fixed seat may move the movable seat.

- THOMAS T. TEMPLIN. lVitnesses:

CLIFTON ARNSPARGER, J. A. JoHNsoN. 

